Shoemaking apparatus



Nov. 7, 1950 R. w. BRADLEY ETAL suommxmc APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventors Robert WBradZey Gar! Juhola Nov. 7,.1950 R. w.BRADLEY ETAL 2,523,492

suommxmc APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 TI f K 444 -1172 1/ Inventors Roberz WBradley Carl Ju/zolcz Nov. 7, 1950 R. w.BRADLEY Erin.

SHOEIAKING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 11, 1948 InventorsRobert WBradZey Carl Juhola 1950 R. w. BRADLEY EI'AL 2,528,492

SHOEMAKING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 11, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F l 155 V lInventors Robert WBraa'fey Carl Juhola Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE SHOEMAKING APPARATUS tion of New'Jersey ApplicationDecember 11, 1948, Serial No. 64,858

.22 Claims.

.1 This invention'relates to apparatus for making shoes and moreparticularly to apparatus foractivating stifiener material incorporatedinto an upper at the heel-end of a lasted shoe.

. In the manufacture of shoes it is found 'desirable tostifienparticular portions of the :heel end .of the shoe. Such stiffening hasbeen :provided byincorporating into the upper, prior to.lasting,so-called counters which are sometimes made of fiber board, celluloid,or the like. proved shoe process, however, suchstiffening has beenprovided by incorporating into the upper in the selected portion amaterial which is initially limp but which may be caused to becomestiffened by the application of heat. Since this material is disposed inthe lasted shoe beneath a layer of leather, ordinary means for heatingthe stiffener material, such as by baking or by radiating heat towardand through the upper layer of leather, must necessarily be either slowor result in damage to the leather. Accordingly, it has been foundadvantageous to activate the stiffenermaterial by means of the heatproduced therein by a high-frequency electric field.

In order that the material may be uniformly stiffened, it is necessaryto provide an electric field having a suitably distributed intensitythroughout the space occupied by the stiffening material. Further,because such activating apparatus is tobe used in factory production,means should advantageously be provided whereby the shoe may be rapidlyand efficiently positioned in the apparatus and subsequently withdrawntherefrom after treatment. Advantageously also, the machine should beefficient and safe.

'Accordingly, it is an. object of the invention to provide improvedapparatus for activating stillener material incorporated into the upperof the heel end of a lasted shoe, which apparatus shall provide forrapidity of operation, uniformity of activation, and economy and safetyof aoper- 'ation.

In accordance with the foregoing object, invention is to be found in theprovision of improved apparatus for the dielectric heat activation of.stifiener material in the heel end of a lasted shoe,

said apparatus having an oscillator, electrodes adapted to=conform tovarious sizes and shapesof heel ends, and means for quickly and easilymounting shoes in the machine and for positioning them in operativeposition.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a pair ofU-shaped electrodes for bracketing the heel end portion of a shoe, whichelectrodes are supported only at spaced points, and

In an im- I .2 may expand or contract widthwise to accommodate varioussizes and contours of lasts. In the illustrated machine, one electrodeis disposed ad- .jacent to the heel seat and the other electrode isdisposed between the heel seat and the free edge of the upper at the:foot opening and nearer the latter. :Each said-electrode comprises apair of conductive electrode members disposed to extend substantiallyfrom the tip of the heel end of the shoe partly around opposite sidesthereof. The members of each electrode are supported by ayoke-comprising inwardly urged, supporting members to which saidelectrode members are pivoted at a point between their ends. The housinto which the supporting members are attached is fabricated of conductivematerial to contain and. shield a spring urging the supporting memberstogether. By another feature of the invention spring means areadditionally provided by which the electrode members .are yieldinglyurged to open forwardly to receive a shoe inserted lengthwise.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of aconductive .member forming an inward flange-like projection from eachelectrode, which projections, together with extensions at the ends'ofthe lower electrode projecting toward the other electrode, adapt theelectrodes to the generation of a suitable electric field throughout acontoured counter of stiffener material.

A shoe-supporting mechanism is provided upon which an inverted shoe maybe mounted on a spring-loaded extensible jack-pin and moved lengthwiseof theshoe upon a track for operative positioning between theelectrodes. A cover is also provided for shielding the electrodes, andby another feature of the invention, movement of the cover intoshielding relation with the electrodes operates a shoe-bottom gage toposition the inverted shoe heightwise of the electrodes. If desired, theshoe may be positioned by manual operation of the bottom gage.

These and other features and advantages of the invention to be definedin the claimsare described in detail in the following specification inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an angularview of an apparatus embodying the features of the invention showing acabinet having a tiltable cover thereon;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with a side of thecabinet cut away, omitting various electrical components and wiring;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the elecbrackets 26 secured tothe chassis. .yieldingly supplied to the rod It by a spring 22 trodesand shoe-supporting mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of a shoe-endbracketing electrode shownin Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the electrodesshowing a modified form of an auxiliary electrode; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VIIVII of Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine comprises generally a lowersection or cabinet I I containing a power supply and an upper section orchassis I2 on and within which are mounted the components of ahigh-frequencyoscillator and on which are mounted the counter-activatingelectrodes E and the shoe-supporting mechanism P. To provide safetyforthesoperator and to prevent radiation from the electrical system, ahousing is provided for,.enclosing the top of the chassis, said housingcomprising a stationary 'hood I3 and a tiltable cover I4 having a handle[6. The cover 56, shown open in Fig. 1 and closed in Fig. 2, is mountedon the chassis I2 by a rod I8 rigidly attached to the cover andjournaled in Torque is so that the cover is normally held open against abuiier spring 22. Leaf spring contacts 26 (Fig. l)

of conductive material such as beryllium copper are disposed around theinside of the bottom edge of the cover to engage the upper edge of thechassis I2 when the coveris closed in order to prevent radiation throughthe slot between the cover and the chassis. Similar springs 2'I aredisposed at the upper edge of hood I3 to engage the cover (Fig. 2). Whenthe cover is closed, an arm .28 on the rod i8 contacts and closes anormally open switch 39 which, when open, prevents, in a .manner to belater explained, the application of vpower to the primary-circuit of thehigh voltage transformer of the oscillatorpower supply (Fig.

The cover is held closed is shielding relation to the electrodes, duringoperation, by cover latches 32 which engage lips 33 on the cover. Theselatches are mounted on the ends of a rod 34 journaled in bearings fixedto the chassis I2 and are yieldingly urged out of engagement of thecover It by a spring 36 (indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6). Asolenoid 38 is mounted to pull on an arm 6 in opposition to thespring.The solenoid is arranged to be energized during operagtion from the,power lineby means not shown.

The positioning of shoe S in the electrodes E is aided by a track 52(Figs. 1 to 3) mounted on the top of the chassis i2: "ilnthis trackashoe-supporting mechanism including a, carriage i iiis movable onwheels 46 toward and away-from the .electrodes which are disposedrearwardly of the chassis. From this carriage, a post 48 supports anextensible jack pin comprising a rod 56 over "which telescopes a sleeve52 having a closed end and being adapted to enter and engage the socketof a last L in the shoe. The sleeve is upwardly urged by a loadingspring 54, apin 56 in the rod engaging a slot 58 in the sleeve to limitits heightwise telescoping movement. The rod 56is constructed ofinsulating material to float the metallic last socket and sleeve in theelectric field to minimize disturbance of the electric field due to thepresence of the metal. A heel-end-engaging insulating member 60 ismounted at the rear of the electrodes to limit the rearward movement ofthe shoe in the'correct lengthwise position relative to the electrodes,'It will be seen that 4 the lasted shoe may be held in inverted positionupon the jack pin, positioned heightwise by pressure upon the shoebottom, and positioned lengthwise by movement of the carriage M in itstrack.

When the cover is closed, the shoe, mounted on-the jack pin; isautomatically correctly positioned heightwise to meet the electrodes bya bottom gage 62 attached to a transverse member 64 which is supportedat each end by rods 66 connected thereto by brackets 68, plates 16 andscrews H. The rods 66 are slidable in apertures at the'ends' of bracketsI2 affixed to the sides of the cabinet l2, said rods being yieldablyurged upwardlybysprings I3. Stubs T l attached on each inner side of thecover It are adapted to engage the shoulder portions 16 of blocks 78attached to each rod 66 to move the bottom gage 62 "downwardly to apredetermined position when the cover M is in its closed position.

The two electrodes and 82'whichare adapted for generating ahigh-frequency electric field through the counter portion C (Fig. 3) ofa shoe S, as operatively positioned by the previously-describedmechanism,are substantially U -sha'ped and are disposed substantiallyparallel to each other and to the shoe bottom for bracketing the heelend, one at the heel seat and the other atr-a location somewhat morethan half-way toward the foot. opening. The electrodes are adapted, whenenergized from an oscillator, to set *up-a high-frequency electric fieldextending heightwise of the shoe and adjacent to electrodes Eachelectrode is supported at'spaced points (Fig. 4) and is arranged toaccommodate differentsizes and shapes of shoes and also to adapt itselfto possible misalinement of the shoe. Thus electrode 86 comprises a pairof curved elongated electrode members 84 (Fig. 4) having appreciablewidth heightwise'of the shoe and disposed toextend substantially fromthe tip of the heel end of a shoe along opposite sides thereof. Eachmember 841has a boss 86 between its ends by which it is pivoted to asupporting member or arm 88. An end of each arm 88 is pivotallyattached'in a housing!!!) by a bolt 92. The two arms are urged towardeachv other by a spring 94 disposed in a groove 96 (Fig. 3) in thehousing, which'di'spositionserves to shield the spring from picking-upradios-frequency energy. The inward movement of-each' arm is limited bya stop 98 integral therewith which bears against a set screw Hill in theback-of the. housing. The two arms together form an electrode-supportingyoke whose rest position may be adjusted by screws I90.

The. housing is supported by attachment to an end of a conductivetubular mernber- "12 which, together with a similar tubular member Hil,v comprise the conductors of the filament tank circuit of. theoscillator, saidattachment being made by a curved bar I 06 and clampI08. At'-' tached to each electrode member 84 is a leaf spring H0whichbears against the arm 88 to urge. thepair of electrode members topivotto .open forwardly for the ready lengthwise misertion of the end ofa shoe. Insulating spacers 1H2 attachedto the forward ends of themenibers and spacers H4 attached theretolnear the rear ends are adaptedto engage the surface of the shoe at spaced locations to aline the" @156trode members with the side of a shoe'and maintain a predeterminedspacing of the electrode members-from the shoe. The electrode 8!] hasconductive members H6 forming inwardly pro: Jecting portions of theelectrode membersB i',

equivalent electrically to a flange on each, to overlie the overlastedmargin of the upper at the heel seat for producing a suitable field inthis region. These conductive members II6 attached to electrode 88 arecharacterized by having a portion II8 near the heel breast line whichpor tion extends inwardly a greater distance than the rest of themember.

The other electrode 82, for association with the heel end of a shoe at alevel between the heel seat and the foot opening, is similar inconstruction and mounting to electrode 80, as is indicated by the use ofprime reference numerals. However, conductive members I I6 (Fig. 1)project inwardly a uniform distance throughout their length while theelectrode members 84 are characterized by having conductive extensions I28 (Fig. 3) at their heel breast ends. These extensions are inclinedoutwardly from the shoe (Fig. 7) and project toward the heel seatelectrode 88. The projecting portions H6 and I28 adapt the electrodes tothe generation of an electric field through the contoured counter ofstiffener material.

To provide an electric field at the back seam line where there may be agap between electrode members 84, an auxiliary electrode I22 is attachedto the housing 90 by screw 92 for presenting a conductive surfaceadjacent to the heel seat portion of the back seam substantiallycoplanar with the members. Because of standing waves, the high-frequencyvoltage at any given point on the electrodes increases with theelectrical distance of said point from the housing 98 along theconducting path. Advantageously, the high-frequency voltage appearingupon the said surface of the auxiliary electrode should be substantiallythe same as or greater than that appearing at the rear ends of theelectrode members 84 at the back seam gap. Because of the length of theelectrical path from housing 98 along the arms 88 and back to said ends,the high-frequency voltage at said ends is higher than that which wouldappear upon the said surface of the auxiliary electrode were thiselectrode connected to the housing by a straight conductor. Accordingly,this connection is made by a conductive loop I24 effectively to increasethe electrical length from the housing to the said surface beyond thatafforded by a straight to the housing 78 through a plurality of loopsformed by a coiled conductive member I26 (Fig. '5). A secondsupplemental electrode I28 is connected to the housing 98 byanotherlooped conductor for presenting a surface adjacent to another portion ofthe back seam.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the oscillator comprises triodes I38, I32connected in a push-pull, grounded anode, oscillator circuit. Thetriodes are mounted on the top of chassis I2 so that the anodeconnections I 3|, I33 of the triodes are directly connected to thechassis. The connections I3I, I33 are formed with cooling fins which aresupplied with a current of air by a motor driven blower I35connected toan air duct I31. The grid connections I36 (Fig. 2) extend into ashielded cubicle I38 containing a resonant line grid tank circuit I40.The cold end of the grid tank is formed by a shorting plate I42 intowhich the .ends of the tank lines I48 F .-.2)

run. For grounding the cold end of the tank for radio-frequencycurrents, the plate I42 is supported in closely spaced relation to thebottom of the cubicle I38 by attachment to an insulating support I44mounted upon spacers I46 footed on the bottom plate I48 of the cubicle.Leads from the filaments of the triodes emerge through the tops of theglass envelopes, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Outside leads I58 areconnected within the envelopes to the ends of the filaments and throughthese leads there is supplied the heating current. A center lead I52 ofeach triode is connected to the midpoint of the filament. Asillustrated, the center leads are connected, by leads I58, I68 (Fig. 1),respectively, to the clamps I88, I88 at the ends of the tubular membersI82 and I84 of the filament tank circuit. This tank circuit has anadjustable shorting bar I 6i and extends rearwardly and down intoanother cubicle I62 (Fig. 2), where it is grounded for radio-frequencycurrents by a plate I64 mounted in closely spaced relation to the bottomplate I86 of the cubicle I62. The hot end of the filament tank issupported by an insulating block I68 (shown partly broken away inFig. 1) through which the tubular members I02, I84 pass. The block isattached to "the chassis I2 by a metallic bracing member I18. By thismeans, the filament lines and electrodes are rigidly supported with aminimum amount of supporting structure whereby dielectric losses and thepossibility of electrical breakdown are minimized. Leads for supplyingfilament current to the triodes are run from supply circuits omitted forclarity through the respective filament tank lines from the cold end.Upon emerging from the upper ends of the lines, the leads are connectedto the respective outside triode filament leads I58. Connection of thegridreturn lead of the oscillator to the cold end of the grid tank isprovided by means of a dissipative choke (or inductive resistor) I72mounted in vertical position through central holes in plates I42 and I48, the upper end of the resistor being connected to the upper surfaceof shorting plate I 42 near its midpoint. In operation, a lasted shoe isinverted and positioned on the jack pin sleeve- 52 and the carriage 44is then slid rearwardly until the heel of the shoe engages theinsulating member 88. The shoe is thus correctly positioned lengthwiseof the electrodes but slightly above its operating position. Theshielding cover I4 is then closed whereupon the gage member 62 descendsto position the shoe heightwise of the electrodes. A timer (not shown)may be adjusted to the desired treating period and the cover is thendepressed slightly below its operating position whereby acover-over-travel switch 248 (Fig. 1) is closed and the cover I4 is thenheld in operating position by the latches 32 until the, timer has runits course. Thereafter the coveropens for the removal of the shoe.

While the invention has been described by relation to the specificembodiment herein illus-- trated, alternative arrangements within the.

scope of the invention :will occur to those skilled" in the art.Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be not limited to such aspecific em-..

laws for activating stiffener material incorporated into the heel end ofa lasted upper, a pair of substantially U-shaped electrodes disposedsubstantially parallel to each other for bracketing the heel end of ashoe, said electrodes being supported only at spaced points and beingadapted for connection to a source of high-frequency electric energy forestablishing a highfrequency electric field zone in portions of theupper adjacent to the electrodes to activate counter material in suchportions.

2. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus for activatingstiffener material incorporated into the heel end of a lasted upper,activating electrodes adapted for connection to a source ofhigh-frequency electric energy comprising a first substantially U-shapedelectrode for bracketing the heel end of a shoe adjacent to the heelseat andparallel to the shoe bottom, and a second substantially U-shapedelectrode disposed substantially parallel to said first elec trode forbracketing the heel end of the shoe at another location, each electrodebeing supported only at spaced points.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said first electrode has aconductive member forming an inwardly projecting portion to overlie theoverlasted margin of the upper at the heel seat.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which each electrode has appreciable widthheightwise of the shoe and has a conductive member forming an inwardlyprojecting portion from each electrode and in which said secondelectrode additionally has at its forward ends conductive extensionsprojecting toward said first electrode.

- 5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said inwardly projecting portion ofsaid first electrode extends inwardly a greater distance near the heelbreast line ends thereof than otherwise, and wherein said extensions ofsaid second electrode incline outwardly from the shoe and toward saidfirst electrode.

6. An expansible electrode for bracketing the end portion of a shoecomprising a pair of conductive electrode members adapted to extendalong the sides of the end portion of a shoe, and inwardly urgedsupporting members to which said electrode members are pivoted at apoint between their ends.

'7. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus for activatingstiffener material incorporated in the end portion of a lasted shoeupper, an expansible electrode for bracketing said portion comprising apair of curved elongated electrode members adapted to extend along thesides of the 'end portion of a shoe, and a pair of inwardly urgedsupporting members'to which said electrode members are attachedrespectively at a point between their ends for pivoting in the plane ofthe shoe bottom whereby, upon insertion of a shoe therebetween, saidelectrode members may pivot in the said plane to aline themselves withthe sides of the shoe.

8. An expansible electrode as in claim '7, and additionally comprisingspring means urging said pair of electrode members to pivot to openforwardly for the ready lengthwise insertion therebetween of the end ofa shoe.

w 9. Apparatus as in claim '7, wherein additionally, said electrodemembers have inwardly extending insulating spacers attached thereto atspaced locations to engage the surface of a shoe to aline the memberswith the side of a shoe and maintain a predetermined spacing betweensaid members and said shoe.

lOLIn high-frequency dielectric heating afiparatus for'activatingcounter stiffener material incorporated in the heel portion of a lastedshoe upper, an electrode extending substantially around said heelportion adjacent to the shoe bottom and a cooperative electrodeextending around said heel portion at a location nearer the foot openingof the shoe, each of said electrodes comprising a pair of curvedelongated electrode members, supporting means for each electrodepermitting relative separation of the members of a pair, and connectingmeans between said members and said supporting means permitting pivotingof said members in the respective planev of said electrodes.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said supporting means individuallycomprise a yoke having a pair of arms pivoted at one end for relativemovement toward and away from each other, and spring means connectedbetween said arms to urge them toward each other.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10 and additionally comprising means forpositioning a shoe heightwise in said electrodes by reference to theplane of the shoe bottom.

, 13. In apparatus of the class described, means for positioning theheel end of a lasted shoe in operative position relative to electrodesforactivating a counter stifiener piece incorporated in such a shoe,comprising a shoe-supporting mechanism for supporting the shoe on a lastin inverted position and in operative position laterally relative tosaid electrodes, said mechanismineluding spring means tending tomaintain said shoe higher in position than that to beassumed when inoperative position, .a shielding cover mounted for movement into and outof shielding relation to the electrodes, and heightwise positioningmeans operable by movement of said cover into shielding relation to saidelectrodes for depressing the shoe into operative position heighte wiserelative to the electrodes.-

14. Apparatus as in claim 13, additionally com-v prising a track overwhich said mechanism is adapted to move in bringing a shoe lengthwiseinto engagement with the electrodes, and a heelend-engaging insulatingmember positioned to stop such movement when said shoe is in properposition lengthwise of the electrodes.

'15. Apparatus as in claim 13, in which said mechanism includes avertical post of insulating material, and supported in telescopingrelation thereon, a spring-loaded sleeve adapted for engaging a lastsocket.

16. In high-frequency dielectric heating apparatus, an expansibleelectrode for treating the end portions of shoes of various sizescomprising a pair of curved elongated electrode members adapted toextend along the sides of a shoe substantially from the tip of said endportion, means for pivotally supporting said members in bracketingrelation to a shoe end, and an auxiliary'electrode member comprising aconductive member mounted adjacent to the rear ends of said pivotedelectrode members and substantially coplanar therewith to present aconductive surface adjacent to said tip.

17. Apparatus as in claim 16 and includin means for connecting saidauxiliary electrode member to the same side of a source of highfrequencyelectric energy as said pair of electrode members.

18. Apparatus as in claim 17, wherein said connecting means includes aconductive loop-to 9 increase the electrical length of said means beyondthat provided by a straight conductor.

19. In apparatus of the class described, expansible electrode meanscomprising two relatively separable electrode members, a conductivehousing provided with a recess, supporting members connectedrespectively to said electrode members and pivotally connected to saidhousin for lateral separating movement, said housing having spring meanscontained within said recess and connecting said supporting members forurging the same toward each other, said con struction effectivelyshielding said spring from the high-frequency electric field of saidelectrode members.

20. In shoe heating apparatus, an expansible electrode comprising twoelectrode members adapted to extend along opposite sides of the endportion of a shoe, and relatively movable supporting members to whichthe electrode members are pivoted.

21. In shoe heating apparatus, an expansible electrode for bracketing anend portion of a shoe comprising two electrode members adapted to extendalong opposite sides of the end portion REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent! UNITED STATESPATENTS Number Name Date 2,325,179 Doering July 27, 1943 2,333,412Crandell Nov. 2, 1943 2,342,846 Crandell Feb. 29, 1944 2,391,086Crandell Dec. 18, 1945 2,396,004 Gilbert Mar. 5, 1946 2,451,953 IngramOct. 19, 1948

